Where art they? Really, there’s so much blah about the Indian art market crashing and all that oil paint. Yet Mumbai artists seem to be on the top of things, earning their mega-bucks and globe-waltzing.
And the proof of acryclic is that quite a flock of the city’s artists are to be found — not at their studios — but at international airports. Among the 30-plus set, Riyas Komu, Sudharshan Shetty and Bose Krishnamachari have sprouted wings. Cell chat with the self-effacing Komu and he’ll inform you that he’s getting his new works ready for a biennale.
Riyas hasn’t shown in the city for quite a while after his series on the nation’s football players. Venice and Paris though have gone ooh-la-la about his installations especially. And Bose had developed this cool habit of SMSing his cellphone list. In case you’re in Cochin or London, “Do drop by” for the show, cheese-‘n’-wine on the house, maybe even muffins. On a blog site, Riyas and Komu were accused of misusing public funds for a biennale…um, but that controversy has evidently blown over.
The irascible Sanjay Khandekar is in France. And Julius Macwan, who tutors adults in the art of painting at his Bandra workshop, is setting up art education branches in other cities. Atul Dodhiya has been beavering away at his much-awaited series on Bollywood villains. Once at work in his casual-chic studio in Andheri’s Laxmi Industrial Estate, Chintan Upadhyay may now have relocated to New Delhi, but drops in monthly to meet his gallerists and hang out at the Tote Restaurant. Right now, Chintan aka Chintu is touring Hungary-Poland, and plans to launch a multimedia performance on his return. Huh, what does that mean?
Meanwhile at home, galleries have multiplied like rabbits in the last five years but that’s it. Truly it broke my heart to hear that a cosy, innovative gallery at Kala Ghoda has also engaged in the jewellery trade. Tsk.